Michalek in Trouble?

Milan Michalek could be in hot water.
NHL VP of safety Brendan Shanahan is studying an incident on the Jason Spezza goal at 19:21 of the third period because Rangers defenceman Girardi claims he was kicked by Michalek on the play.
Sources confirmed to the Sun Tuesday morning Shanahan has acquired the CBC footage of the replay and though no hearing has been scheduled, Michalek could either face a fine or suspension before Game 7 of the seriers Thursday.
No, Michalek doesn’t have any past history, but a source said Girardi was complaining after the game his pant leg was cut because of the incident. A hearing would have to be held before puck drop Thursday night at MSG.
A decision will likely made later today on whether the incident is serious enough to require a hearing. The replay shows Michalek flat on his belly with Girardi on top of him and using his skate to get Girardi off him.

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10 comments

Didn’t see it or the replay but hopefully he didn’t kick Girardi…that would be one more mark of shame after the boys let one slip away. The final 10 minutes of the 2nd was hard to watch with all the give aways and our Achilles heel showing up again – an inability to get the puck out of our end.

After the 2nd NYR goal I was just praying to get out of the 2nd period and let them regroup but another give away and a wide open man in front put the dagger in with a two goal lead.

I do have faith they can win game 7 but game 6 sure seemed like a lot of weird things combined to see the Sens take a loss. I was surprised they put Silf in, very surprised…then again I was surprised they put Stone in on Saturday…

Need the big guys to step up for game 7 so that means Spezza, Alfie, Karlsson (who went from being great to invisible) and Michalek need to be a force each time they are on the ice. A chip in from an unlikely source again would be good but we can’t ask any more of Neil – he has been a beast all series – perhaps something from Z. Smith…or some good pressure again from Foligno and Turris…their line wasn’t that good yesterday either.

Come on boys- two days to get sorted and stoked to play – at least play hard and let us be proud of you regardless of the outcome.

I think the Sen’s just wanted to give their fans an exciting game 7. Another great refereeing job. They don’t seem to want to let the players decide. Giving one team a 2 man advantage in a tie game was just brutal. I didn’t see the Michalek incident but I hope it’s either not true or that the video clip is non-conclusive. Is it just me, or are the Rangers and Rangers media a bunch of whiners?

Isn’t that interesting. We viewers see the goal from every conceivable angle but don’t witness Michalek kicking anybody. Nor is it mentioned by anyone in the broadcast booth. Michalek isn’t that kind of player (he aint no Rat; aka: Kenny Linseman). But, when a player from New York makes a claim, hell, it needs to looked at by “inner circle”. I suspect Shana-sham will find nothing worthy of a suspension or fine but, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he did. Afterall, the New York Rangers are playing the pivotal 7th and deciding game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They are being pushed by a team Shana-sham often poked fun at. They are being pushed by a team that finished 8th while they were the number 1 seed and expected to go far. And, the game is being played in New York, where the NHL headquarters are located in greatest show on earth, Madison Square Gardens! Will it serve the NHL better for the Blue Shirts to advance? Hell ya!

Much earlier in the game we noticed one of the NYR’s had a cut in his pants (not the player with the inside leg seams opened). This was defintely a skate cut, type-of-thing. But it was early on tha we saw it. Maybe Girardi?

Bruce called it straight, Milan used hit boot to push Girardi off of him; it is a far cry from a kicking motion. It Tuuk that effort top extricate himself from the pile!

I think Alfredsson should be very embarrassed (but based on what I saw in an interview, he is not). I witnessed only one player do something similar in my life. It was at a Halifax Voyageur practice and “the Towering Inferno” did exactly the same thing with Ken Houston on the bench nearby (both very tough dudes, especially Kenny Houston). Gilles Lupien came very close to hitting Houston and he had a major issue with it. Houston took care of business. The media want to attribute the outburst to frustration associated with not playing on the PP but the reality is, Alfredsson was ticked because he got hit. Is he not to be hit? His stick could have shattered and really hurt anyone on or near the bench. He shamed himself in front of his team mates, the 21 year old Silfverberg (you have to wonder what he thought about the incident), 19k at the Paladium and millions watching on television.

I was surprised as well when Stone was incerted into the lineup; that too made little sense to me. But, what was worse, the coach had him on a line with O’myGod-Brien! How the hell does that make any sense? A gifted offensively minded kid playing with a guy with two bricks for hands. Le Moustache applied his weird logic the next game by dressing Silfverberg but has him on with Spezza and Michalek? Really and truly, what did the coach expect to happen, afterall, only 7 months before Silfverberg turned down a contract to play in the NHL for the Ottawa Senators because he believed he wasn’t ready physically or mentally (I think he was right). He didn’t even want to test his game against NHLers in the pre-season. I could be wrong (and often am) but that speaks volumes to me when you consider that Hoffman, Petersson and the 18 year old Zibby WANTED the opportunity to measure their games against seasoned NHLers. The coach has made some dumbass moves all year but, he does possess the most important component, he gets the most out of his players and they all want to work for him. He leaves me wondering though; as a strategist/tactition he offers very little. How does he rationalize playing Gilroy the first game or incerting Butler in the post season as well as Stone and Silfverberg. How does he rationalize Konopka and Philips on the power play under any circumstance? I heard him say the players playing the best will play and those who aren’t wont, but that isn’t true is it? I will take Spezza or Alfredsson on only one pin over Konopka and why not have them on the point on the PP either one would be infinitely better than Philips! I would love to know what they work on when practicing the PP? I certainly hope the team buries the Rangers on Thursday night but win or lose, I have so many questions about the coaching and decisions made that consistently defies any logic.

Well, it should be an exciting game. I believe both teams have an equal chance. The Sen’s seem to often play better on the road. Silferberg or Stone? I’d be tempeted to play Stone, he’s a little more used to the North American type game. Silferberg does look like he will be a player though.

A number of players cut their pants so that isn’t too surprising but would be interesting if Girardi already had a cut and then tried to say it was Michalek.

I have now seen the replay and Michalek certainly pushed Girardi away with his skate, wasn’t a kick to be sure but still, you don’t want to do anything with your skate blade.

The story made me think about skates and kicking, etc…sort of amazing that there isn’t more trouble with kicking or people being cut with skates by accident. I have never been in a game where someone was injured by a blade and I have never seen anyone kick someone on the ice either…I guess we just get conditioned so early to be careful that you don’t ever dream of using your skate while in the blink of an eye I (or anyone) might give out a cross-check or bad slash or punch someone…personal ramblings I know but it just make me think!

Alfie sure was pissed off on Monday and I actually don’t mind it – not good for the other team to see you that way and probably shocked the heck out of Silfverberg but hopefully that intensity builds and the boys come outu flying tomorrow night.

I think that the Sens will have to weather the storm early but if they get out of the first 10 minutes without giving up a goal I think our forecheck gets going again and since we are due for some bounces they will put a couple in before the first period is complete.

The series has been so tense for the most part I would almost like to have the Sens win in OT again or something but I would settle for a comfortable lead and have it on cruise control to the end.

Checking the PP stats for the Ottawa Senators I see Spezza again leads the team with 5 points and plus 3 in 6 games; but, as always he is a lightening rod for criticism. The fact that the Coach talked about is displeasure publicly doesn’t help Spezza’s relationship with the many lemmings here in Ottawa. After game 5 if you hopped on any e-board you would have read the many posts from the lynch mob. There is no mention of Alfredsson’s single point and minus 2. No talk about why Silfverberg and Stone were incerted in the lineup. The media don’t want to ask the coach why professionals who had great seasons in the AHL don’t get a sniff. If Boriecki gets to play tonight you will witness someone who makes an effort to make the opposition pay for crossing the blueline. He may or may not be an NHLer but he is a defenceman. It must have really hurt to politely introduce the notion that Karlsson needs to do more. Ya think?! It must have pained Le Moustache to softly say that Karlie needs to be Karlie (profound huh?). The coach did say he needs to skate and I suspect he lost a lot of sleep over it. What does he mean “he has to skate”? Translated it means carry the puck and do it with some speed! Karlie hasn’t been Karlie since his 5 point outburst in Winnipeg. In particular, his play has gone south (lack of effort) from the last 2 weeks of the season on and it has continued through to game 6. He has but one point on a goal scored from behind the red line. No one wants to bring up why Daugavins dressed for one game and was Butlered; or why Daisey the Air Rifle played 4 games and was Butlered; or why Gilroy played 2 games and got Butlered and why Butler played 3 games and continued his trend from the entire year and get Butlered. If Le Moustache really wanted a defencemen other than the usual suspects on the PP, wouldn’t Cowen be a better choice than Philips? As I have often said, it drives me crazy when decisions are made that do not put the team in the best position to win hockey games. It is laughable to hear the coach suggest that is his objective. But what is not laughable but very disconcerting is to hear him say that decisions on who he dresses in the post season are partly based on player development. Best chance to win and player development are not necessarily on the same page and nor should they be in the NHL playoffs! Realy and truly, who makes these decisions?

Yes there are always going to be people who will pick holes in elite players games. Usually it is unfounded as some of the tools and skills that make them elite can contribute to some of the so called deficiencies that people focus on.

Spezza has been merely OK. Got a nice goal in game 5 and then an empty netter because of Konopka (he batted down the Gaborik pass and knocked Gabby down in the process – giving Spezza a free pass to the empty net) and then a somewhat meaningless goal in game 6 after playing very loose most of the game.

Stats don’t tell the entire story, never have and never will. That said, Spezza does not deserve criticism or blame in any way for the Sens current position – every player needs to step up and tonight that may mean that Karlsson has to become more of a catalyst for the offence (although he has been just fine overall like Spezza) and Alfie needs to use the extra days to get prepared and have some impact.

It is nothing new – Turris needs to get some shots on net, the PP needs to be more desperate and be more fluid and the big thing is the Sens need to be smart and not take any dumb penalties.

Sorry Dave, but I disagree with you. Firstly, I don’t believe in desperation and certainly doesn’t apply to hockey. The team needs to demonstrate their skill on the PP and not be so damned predictable. If Spezza has been merely OK, how has Prasie Alfie been? Spezza’s performance is similar to what he has done all year, leadding the team but Karlie who has been fine has done little for many weeks. I know you and most hockey fans love his play but we have got to be honest; he has been awful. His value is singlular focussed on getting points and quarterbacking the power play and both are non existent. I find Spezza-haters actively seek out opportunities to criticize his play. Everyone makes mistakes but for some reason, there is a hyper-sensitivity to those made by Spezza. Those same fans that amplify his gaffs, never acknowledge his brilliance. Why? One only has to look at what Heatley has done or should I say has not done since leaving the team to understand Spezza’s capability. Spezza was fourth in the league in scoring while playing on a team most pundits predicted would end up in last place overall. He has played on every conceivable line combination. My God, he played the last two games with guys in their very first NHL game (one 19 and the other 21 years of age). What does that tell you about the depth of talent in the supporting cast? All this, and he remains positive and accommodating to the media and the public alike. How can anyone possibly be critical of a guy like that? Alfie is canonized and Spezza vilified – I don’t get it.

Spezza playing with Silfverberg doesn’t not qualify as him and Milan playing with talent. The kid didn’t want to be in North America. Play Petersson with him though and perhaps, the line would be better. Can you offer an explanation why Andre got only one game with the big club this year? I strongly suspect Le Moustache isn’t even aware of what Silfverberg did this year. He isn’t the one who brought the kid over to Canada. But it was he who wanted him in the lineup? C’mon Dave, that makes little sense. I cannot believe you endorse Philips and Konopka on the powerplay, or Bulter playing 60 games this year. Definitely be a fan and like Puddy, “support the team” but we can and should call a spade a shovel!

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About the authors

Bruce Garrioch is an award-winning journalist and a must-read in the hockey community. A Day-Oner at the Ottawa Sun, Garrioch is one of the top sports journalists in the country, covering the Senators since their return to the NHL in 1992-93. A 2009 winner of an Ontario Newspaper Award for his coverage of the Dany Heatley saga, Garrioch has a strong ability to break news and brings inside information with his Sunday NHL column, one of the most popular in the country. It is read by GMs, players and coaches who want the inside scoop. Garrioch has covered the 2008 Stanley Cup final for Sun Media, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and 2006 Games in Turin, Italy. Mainly, Garrioch has the pulse of the Ottawa Senators. If people want to know what's happening they turn to him to get the info on contracts, negotiations, signings, trades and, of course, games.

Don Brennan is a Day 1 employee of the Ottawa Sun. He has spent the majority of his 23 years as a sports reporter/columnist, covering the Senators since their return to the NHL in 1992, and prior to that writing about the Rough Riders, 67's and other sports. Brennan also wrote a Page 6 column in the Sun for nine months. A native of North Bay, Brennan moved to attend Centennial College in 1978. He remained in Toronto for a decade, working first as a freelancer, than an editor with the Toronto Sun. Brennan has lived in Ottawa full time ever since.

Don Brennan and Bruce Garrioch are Ottawa's all-star hockey writing duo, and will be regularly contributing to Off The Posts.

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